Machine tools

ABSTRACT

In a machine tool having a pivotally mounted work fixture, the hydraulically actuated work-positioning and clamping devices on the fixture are supplied with operating fluid through the pivot shaft at one end of the fixture via a fixed manifold surrounding the pivot shaft and connected to a supply source, and a rotatable manifold secured to the pivot shaft and connected to the individual devices on the work fixture, each manifold having a similar number of fluid passages and each fluid passage in one manifold being connected to a separate one of the fluid passages in the other manifold by one of a number of individual passages extending through the pivot shaft.

United States Patent Smith [451 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] MACHINE TOOLS Primary Examiner-Gil Weidenfeld [72] Inventor: James Arthur Smith, 11, Green A'mmey RbenS Cushman Grover View Close, Bovingdon, England [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: April 1, 1970 I h l h u d k n a mac me too avmg a pivota y mounte wor [21] Appl' 24623 fixture, the hydraulically actuated work-positioning and clamping devices on the fixture are supplied with [52] US. Cl. ..90/89, 90/63, 285/136 operating fluid through the pivot shaft at one end of [51] Int. Cl. ..B23d 41/02 the fixture via a fixed manifold surrounding the pivot Field Of Search shaft and connected to a supply source, and a rotata- 136 ble manifold secured to the pivot shaft and connected to the individual devices on the work fixture, each [56] References (med manifold having a similar number of fluid passages and each passage in one being COH- nected to a separate one of the fluid passages 1n the 1,891,670 12/1932 Ernst ..285/190X other if ld by one Of a number f individual 2,174,984 10/ 1939 Lapolnte ..90/89 passages extending through the pivot shaft. 2,698,664 l/l955 Freeman ..285/190 X 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures 0 O O O O O a O o o o O O a I:

5 5 I ,15 1s 13 I 3 i lili f] j; I: 18 r 'il fl in J \2 I Z 7 g e E O PATENTEDmszz I972 SHEEI 2 [IF 3 wm mm mm MACHINE TOOLS This invention relates to machine tools of the kind, employing a pivotally mounted work-holding fixture which carries a plurality of hydraulically operated devices for adjusting, clamping and otherwise acting on the work, which devices are supplied with operating fluid from an external source.

To facilitate pivotal movement of the fixture into and out of operative relation with the tool it has been the practice to selectively connect the hydraulically operated devices thereon to the fluid source and to exhaust by means of a plurality of flexible pipes and it is the object of the invention to reduce or eliminate the requirement for such pipes and thus provide a more compact and durable arrangement of the hydraulic connections.

To this end, according to the invention, the machine tool is provided, adjacent one end of the fixture, with two manifolds spaced from each other along the pivotal axis of the fixture, one of which is rotatable with the fixture and has a plurality of separate external connections to individual and/or groups of fluid-operable devices on said fixture, and the other of which is nonrotatably fixed to the machine frame and has a corresponding number of external connections to those on the rotatable manifold, which connections are selectively connectable to an external source of pressure fluid or to exhaust, each connection on the rotatable manifold being paired with a separate one of the connections on the fixed manifold and connected thereto by one of a plurality of fluid passages extending along or closely parallel to the pivotal axis of the fixture.

One embodiment of the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of part of a horizontal broaching machine showing the pivotally mounted work-holding fixture in its raised or operative position;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal secton on an enlarged scale The shaft 2 is formed with a hollow portion 11 (FIG. 2) providing a passage for a plurality of axially extending pipes 12, the ends of which pass through plates 13 and 14 into a solid reduced portion 15 of the shaft 2 rotatably mounted in a manifold 16 fixed to a member 17 of the frame 6 and into a manifold 18 rotatable with the shaft 2 respectively. The portion 15 of the shaft 2 is formed with a plurality of longitudinal fluid passages 19 (FIG. 2) each connected at one end to a different one of said pipes 12 and radial passages 20 each connecting a different one of said passages 19 to a different one of a series of circumferential grooves 21 each of which is In constant communication with a different one of a series of ports 22 in the surface of the manifold 16. Each port 22 is connected to a different one of a plurality of external pipe couplings 23 arranged in two parallel rows on the upper end of the manifold 16 and selectively connected by a corresponding number of pipes 24 to an external source of hydraulic fluid under pressure or to exhaust. The manifold 18 is formed with a plurality of longitudinal bores 25 each receiving the inner end of a different one of the pipes 12 and each connected by a different one of a series of radial passages 26 to a different one of a plurality of external couplings 27 distributed around the circumference of the manifold 18, pairs of said couplings being separately connected by pipes 28 to the inlet and outlet respectively of individual fluid-operated devices or groups of such devices (not shown) positioned on the fixture 1 for ad- 30 justing, clamping or otherwise acting upon the work.

through the pivotal mounting of the left-hand end of its ends with horizontal pivot shafts 2 and 3 mounted in bearings 4 (FIG. 2) in pillars 5 forming part of the fixed frame 6 of the broaching machine, the tool of which is not shown, and adapted to be rotated through approximately 90 by racks 7 (FIG. 5) actuated by piston and cylinder devices 8 and meshing with toothed quadrants 9 each keyed at 10 to one of the shafts 2 and 3.

Fluid under pressure can thus be supplied to and drained from any or all of the fluid-operated devices on the fixture 1 without restricting or making undue allowance for the pivotal movement of the fixture.

I claim:

1. In a machine tool, a frame, aligned supporting shafts on the frame, a work fixture mounted on the supporting shafts for pivotal movement therewith, two manifolds mounted at the respective ends of one of the supporting shafts, one of which is rotatable with the fixture and the other of which is non-rotatably fixed to the frame, said rotatable manifold being internally bored to provide a plurality of passages, each having an exterior connection adapted to deliver a hydraulic fluid to the work fixture, and the fixed manifold being internally bored to provide an equivalent number of passages with those in the rotatable manifold, each passage being selectively connectable to an external source of pressure fluid and to an exhaust, and each passage in the rotatable manifold being connected to a separate one of the passages in the fixed manifold through the medium of one of an equivalent number of conduits extending along and parallel to the axis of the shaft. 

1. In a machine tool, a frame, aligned supporting shafts on the frame, a work fixture mounted on the supporting shafts for pivotal movement therewith, two manifolds mounted at the respective ends of one of the supporting shafts, one of which is rotatable with the fixture and the other of which is nonrotatably fixed to the frame, said rotatable manifold being internally bored to provide a plurality of passages, each having an exterior connection adapted to deliver a hydraulic fluid to the work fixture, and the fixed manifold being internally bored to provide an equivalent number of passages with those in the rotatable manifold, each passage being selectively connectable to an external source of pressure fluid and to an exhaust, and each passage in the rotatable manifold being connected to a separate one of the passages in the fixed manifold through the medium of one of an equivalent number of conduits extending along and parallel to the axis of the shaft. 